Ryan should act to protect kids from tobacco

EDITOR: It was a proud day for Wisconsin when U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan recently became Speaker of the House. As a youth tobacco control advocate, I am glad he is committed to physical fitness and health and is taking action to remove the cigarette smoke left in his office by the previous speaker.

I urge Speaker Ryan to make it a priority to protect all Americans, and especially kids, from tobacco use, which is the No. 1 cause of preventable death. He can do so right now as Congress finishes the budget for the coming year.

Unfortunately, rather than step up the fight against tobacco, some in Congress want to do the opposite and have included provisions in House appropriations bills that would protect the tobacco industry at the expense of kids. One proposal (HR 3020) would cut funding in half for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit. The other proposal (HR 3049) would greatly weaken Food and Drug Administration oversight of electronic cigarettes and cigars, including products with flavors that attract kids, such as gummy bear and cotton candy.

I urge Speaker Ryan to help defeat these very harmful proposals and make sure they never become law. Please protect kids, not the tobacco industry.